"Kuri, we have a guest." Grams said, waking her in the middle of the night. "Put on your formal hakama."
Kuri went and put on her formal miko outfit, then came out to see a man seated in the formal Japanese fashion, on his knees, in front of Chaos' altar.
The man had a scar on his face and a shock of red hair. He was burning traditional incense and praying to the Goddess.
"This man is Larten Crepsley." Grams said. "He has come to see you."
"To see...me?" Kuri repeated. Doesn't she mean to see her? Everyone comes to see Grams. She has a string of lovers across the world, not to mention how far her coven reaches, although she insists it was disbanded after several of them got a little too obsessed with vanity. And that's the man who came for Reiko.
Larten got up and walked over to her. He parted her hair, and touched her forehead.
"Ah yes. The Goddess' Mark is apparent on her already. And you say she has gifts?" Larten said.
"Gifts? You mean the way I hurt those people? Grams what is going—" Kuri stopped, coughing and hacking, falling to her knees.
"So you remember I came here recently and took the elder sister." Larten said.
"Yes," Grams said. "You said Reiko was the chosen High Priestess to the Vampires."
Kuri gripped her chest. Vampaneze? Is this about Vampyres?
Everyone knew about Vampyres. It was an illness that affected one in ten of humankind. The human would then become a fledgling, and be brought to live with Vampyres. Of that few, only one in ten fledglings survived to adulthood, the others dying. Those that did become full fledged Vampyres were powerful beings, and decorated human obsession as celebrities, politicians, and the like.
Kuri lifted her head, trying to stifle the coughing. Is that what happened to sister? Is she a Vampyre?
"...has rejected the Change..." Grams continued. "Yes Kurda informed me this afternoon. Reiko is dead."
"Regardless of that," Larten said. "We must press on. Kurisuta is to be welcomed by my brethren as our High Priestess."
"Tell me, how did you know of my granddaughter's destiny?" Grams asked. "I only know because my dearest Atsuko, my daughter, had a vision when pregnant with the twins. A vision of a future brought about by the two of them."
"I should think that you know Evanna has sent me." Larten laughed.
Evanna? Aunt Evanna? Kuri coughed again, images shifting in her mind of the strange woman who often led the coven in days past, with all of her frogs. She had been the only one, back then, who could make the horrifying nightmares stop.
"If you choose to take her, I must warn you...there was an incident, when Atsuko was pregnant..." Grams said. "I had her ingest a wicked spirit, for purification, and we were unaware of her pregnancy. I have reason to believe that thing dwells inside Kuri. That would be the reason why such a gentle child is capable of such violent behavior. I say this...because I do not know if even you would be a match for her."
To Kuri's surprise, Larten smiled. "I doubt that will be a problem. I have arranged for a friend of hers to join us."
A low growl escaped Kuri's throat, but it turned into a cough and spasm.
"You won't hurt Darren Shan, will you Kuri?"
Xxx
Kiana saw a rainbow.
She stopped and took a moment to study the different colors and how one lead into another. As she gazed at the rainbow, she connected something positive to each color. Yellow reminded her of the beauty of her home. Blue made her think of new beginnings and the promise of a bright future. Each color was unique to Kiana.
She imagined she was wrapping herself in each ribbon of color, and at the same time wrapping herself in positive energy. When she finished with the last color, she threw her arms up and her head back and whirled around three times
"Thank you Nyx," Kiana said. "for the beauty and positive energy of rainbows."
"I have never seen a ritual quite like that before," Kurda said, watching, always watching.
"It was a Rainbow Ritual," Kiana replied. "I wanted you to see the colors the way I see them."
"The way they wrapped themselves around you," Kurda said. "That was fantastic. I would like to learn more about vampyres, but tonight I have an important meeting. Would you forgive me?"
Kiana nodded, and he kissed her cheek.
"I will return tomorrow night."